APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Below are the apartments which will be available for rent soon. Simply scroll down through the properties listed. You can apply online if you choose or call 304.485.7368 to speak to the property manager. You can also email us at:[email protected]

APPLICANT AND TENANT POLICIES

Effective 12/31/2018

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT AND POLICY

It is the policy of Pope Properties/Avington Townhomes and Apartments (“Pope Properties”) to not discriminate with regard to providing housing. Pope Properties is committed to providing an equal opportunity to housing under the Fair Housing Act and the West Virginia Fair Housing Act. It is Pope Properties’ policy to not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age (40 or above), national origin, ancestry, familial status, blindness, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its operations/ and or in providing services to the general public. No qualified person will be denied housing or otherwise discouraged from obtaining housing at Pope Properties because of such basis. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all persons.

Pope Properties has adopted this non-discrimination policy and all employees are required to abide by the requirements of this policy so that no person will be discriminated against. Staff will participate in Fair Housing and Reasonable Accommodation training on an annual basis.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION & MODIFICATION POLICY

Pope Properties/Avington Townhomes and Apartments (“Pope Properties”) is committed to complying with the Fair Housing Act and the West Virginia Fair Housing Act by ensuring that its policies and practices do not deny individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in, or benefit from, nor otherwise discriminate against individuals with disabilities in connection with the operation of housing services or programs solely on the basis of such disabilities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Pope Properties will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants and residents with a disability in its rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

For example, a housing provider has a “no pets” policy. A tenant who is deaf requests that the provider allow him to keep a dog in his unit as a reasonable accommodation. The tenant explains that the dog is an assistance animal that will alert him to several sounds, including knocks at the door, sounding of the smoke detector, the telephone ringing, and cars coming into the driveway. The housing provider must make an exception to its “no pets” policy to accommodate this tenant.

Reasonable Modifications

Reasonable modifications, such as structural changes made to existing premises occupied or to be occupied by a person with a disability, will be provided should such modifications be necessary to provide full enjoyment of the premises.

Examples of modifications that are typically reasonable include widening doorways to make rooms more accessible for persons in wheelchairs; installing grab bars in bathrooms; or, altering a walkway to provide access to a public or common use area.

Request Procedure

A resident, applicant, or a person acting on their behalf may notify the Property Manager to request an accommodation or modification. The request may be submitted in writing or orally. The Property Manager will provide a Reasonable Accommodation/Modification Request Form; if the individual requires assistance in making the request, management will assist in filling out the form or will fill out a form based on the verbal request.

If the nexus between the disability and disability-related need is not readily apparent, Pope Properties may request reliable disability-related information that (1) is necessary to verify that the person meets the Fair Housing Act’s definition of disability, (2) describes the needed accommodation, and (3) shows the relationship between the person’s disability and the need for the requested accommodation. Depending on

1. See W.Va. Code §§ 5-11A-1 et seq.

2. The Fair Housing Act defines a person with a disability to include (1) individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) individuals who are regarded as having such an impairment; and (3) individuals with a record of such an impairment. Physical or mental impairments include, but are not limited to, such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV, mental illness, emotional illness, drug addiction (other than addiction caused by current, illegal use of a controlled substance) and alcoholism. The term “substantially limits” suggests that the limitation is significant or to a large degree. The term “major life activity” means those activities that are of central importance to daily life, including but not limited to seeing, hearing, walking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, caring for one’s self, learning, and speaking.

3. A “reasonable accommodation” is a change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service that may be necessary for a person with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, including public and common use spaces. Since rules, policies, practices, and services may have a different effect on persons with disabilities than on other persons, treating persons with disabilities exactly the same as others will sometimes deny them an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. The Act makes it unlawful to refuse to make reasonable accommodations to rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

the individual’s circumstances, verifying documentation can be provided by the individual from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other health professional who is in a position to know about the individual's disability. Pope Properties will only seek information that is not necessary to evaluate if a reasonable accommodation or modification may be needed to afford a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.

Management will reply to requests promptly and the requester will be notified of the decision to consent or deny within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving all necessary information, documentation, and/or appropriate verification sources. Exceptions to the thirty (30) calendar day period for notification of the decision on the request will be provided to the requester, setting forth the reasons for the delay. Response may include, but are not limited to:

All decisions to grant or deny reasonable accommodations will be communicated in writing or, if required, in an alternative format.

Denials

Pope Properties may deny a request for a reasonable accommodation if the request was not made by or on behalf of a person with a disability, if there is no disability related need for the accommodation, or if providing the accommodation is not reasonable — i.e., if it would impose an undue financial and administrative burden on the housing provider or it would fundamentally alter the nature of the provider's operations. Prior to formally denying a request,

Pope Properties will engage in an interactive process with the requester to provide an explanation for the impending denial and discuss whether an alternative accommodation could effectively address the disability-related needs. Please be advised that management of Pope Properties is responsible for making all final determinations related to housing. Pope Properties reserves the right to deny housing for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons, for example, for inability to meet the set threshold credit score.

Right to Appeal and Grievance Process

If the request for reasonable accommodation or modification is denied, the requestor has the right to appeal the decision within ten (10) business days (i.e. excluding weekends and nationally recognized holidays) of the date of the written notification of denial.

When a person with a disability believes that she has been subjected to a discriminatory housing practice, including a provider’s wrongful denial of a request for reasonable accommodation, she may file a complaint with HUD within one year after the alleged denial or may file a lawsuit in federal district court within two years of the alleged denial. If a complaint is filed with HUD, HUD will investigate the complaint at no cost to the person with a disability. A person may file a complaint with HUD:

• By placing a toll-free call to 1-800-669-9777 or TTY 1-800-927-9275; or

• By completing the “on-line” complaint form available on the HUD internet site: http://www.hud.gov.

Service Animal and Assistance Animal Policy

No qualified person will be denied housing or otherwise discouraged from obtaining housing at Pope Properties because of a disability and the use of or need for a service animal or therapy/emotional support/assistance animal. It is the policy of Pope Properties to comply with all Federal and State laws inclusive of the reasonable accommodation obligations for service animals or therapy/emotional support/assistance animals.4

4. See generally W.Va. C.S.R. §§ 77-9-1 et seq. .

When requested, Pope Properties will provide a reasonable accommodation allowing such animals on its premises and/or in residential rental units to all qualified applicants and residents who may need accommodation in order to be able to enjoy the benefits of housing.

Breed, size, and weight limitations of the animal are not applied to such situations. Only in situations in which a service animal or therapy/emotional support/assistance animal is found to be a direct threat of harm to others or would cause substantial physical damage to the property of Pope Properties, as based on an individualized assessment of a specific animal’s actual conduct, may a person be denied the use of a particular animal on the property. Further, no additional costs or fees will be charged for said reasonable accommodation.

Record Keeping for Requests and Disposition

A logbook of work orders and formal requests will be maintained by the Property Manager. The spreadsheet will record the name of the applicant or tenant, nature of the request, date of request, the date of completion if approved, date of denial if denied and disposition. Additionally, a copy of each formal written request or work order will be maintained in a separate sub-file.